Noosa MP Sandy Bolton joined the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) team to open their new $1 million Boat Shed last week, with Agricultural Industry Development and Regional Communities Minister Mark Furner and Director General Graeme Bolton in attendance.
“It has been a journey, however, we got there. This amended new shed will assist our fisheries staff with their existing operations, including conducting boating safety inspections on behalf of Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) on our Noosa River,” Ms Bolton said.
“Thank you to the Minister for agreeing to make amendments to the building to address community concerns and the Noosa Plan. This has been greatly appreciated by residents, and it is excellent to see it finally open and operational.
“With the original building established in the 1960s, the Noosa QBFP Boat Shed services a wide geographical catchment from Kauri Creek in the Great Sandy Strait, south to Peregian Beach and west to Gympie and Imbil. It presently accommodates five Noosa-based departmental officers along with various operational vehicles and vessels. These staff include one district fisheries officer, three fisheries officers and one administration officer.
“Especially good is that we have this team based right here in Noosa.
“Gratitude to all including our teams from Fisheries Queensland and residents for their patience.“
The Noosa region is home to important commercial fisheries, including trawl, Spanish mackerel line, net fisheries such as beach seine for mullet, mesh net, and line fisheries for species like snapper, pearl perch, and other rocky reef species, Mr Furner said.
“The Miles Government invests in agriculture and fisheries and supports jobs across the sector, meanwhile the previous Newman-Crisafulli LNP Government cut 28 per cent of Fisheries Queensland staff.”
Fisheries Queensland director Mark Doohan said the opening of the new boat shed and the refurbished administration building in Noosa was a critical step in ensuring their officers could continue to deliver education and enforcement services in the region.“
“These upgrades will enable the QBFP to meet its compliance needs across a broader geographical area, pushing our presence further north and further seaward,“ he said.
The shed can store the largest trailable Rigid Hull vessel in the fleet, supporting marine mammal rescues and the Shark Control Program, as well as providing quick access to waterways around the Noosa Shire.
Construction of the replacement QBFP shed had been halted by Noosa Council in 2017 after it received complaints from residents for its large size and impact on views.
At the time, then Noosa MP Glen Elmes said the building showed “little or no regard for due process nor has any interest in the community of Noosa and what it values most – its natural assets”.
“This building resembles a warehouse, contravenes the Noosa Plan and is completely out of character with the Noosa River Foreshore,” he said.
At a height of 7.5m and floor area of 183sqm the new shed replaced the original shed of 4.99m and 136sqm floor space.
In 2020 the State Government sought and obtained a retrospective approval from Noosa Council for the removal of six trees and construction of the boatshed Council had deemed to be not appropriate on the Noosa River, as it was highly visible from the Noosa River Holiday Park, nearby residences and Noosa River.
This followed a visual impact analysis of the new boat shed undertaken by the Department of Fisheries in March 2018 and indications of a willingness to look at some improvements to the constructed boat shed as well as undertake some improvements (including a reduction in floor area) to an adjacent existing office building. The analysis also identified the need for some planting to offset the loss of the original planting and soften the views of the shed from Russell Street and Noosa River Holiday Park users.
Ms Bolton took the opportunity to discuss the State’s Shark Control Program and current trials with the Minister. With the independent review coming out by the end of the year, Sandy is especially tracking any recommendations relating to shark nets.
“Results from our Noosa MP survey regarding shark nets saw that there were some remaining concerns in our community regarding shark net removal, demonstrating the importance of the need for additional funding for education and research, which was taken forward to the Minister earlier this year. Residents are passionate about reducing impacts to marine life while maintaining human safety, and the current trials are an important part of this. This is a whole community endeavor, and we look forward to progress on this,” said Ms. Bolton.
